Electrical terminal plural socket assemblies



July 6, 1965 5.1. DE-AKIN 3, 7

ELECTRICAL TERMINAL PLURAL SOCKET ASSEMBLIES Filed June 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. STAN LEY THOMAS DEAK N BY d H IS ATTORN EY.

July 6, 1965 s. 'r. DEAKlN ELECTRICAL TERMINAL PLURAL SOCKET ASSEMBLIES Filed June 11, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F I (3. 6b

INVENTOR. STANLEY THOMAS DEAKIN FIG. 6a

f HIS ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,193,617 ELECTRICAL TERMINAL PLURAL SOCKET ASSEMBLIES.

Stanley Thomas Deakin, London, England, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Sealectro Corporation, Mamaroneck, N .Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 11, 1962, Ser. No. 201,481 Claims priority, application Great Britain, June 10, 1961, 21,050/ 61 7 Claims. (Cl. 174153) The invention concerns electrical terminal plural socket assemblies.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an electrical terminal assembly of ready and simple application to such as a through hole in a housing and which will allow of a very convenient jointing thereat of a multiplicity of wires.

According to the present invention an electrical terminal assembly adapted to be located in a hole in a housing or the like and to be initially an interference fit in such hole, comprises an insulating bushing and a metal insert having a plurality of tubular electrically conducting elementsv or sockets integral with each other, said bushing having a radially outwardly directed peripheral flange for abutment with the surface of said housing or the like upon engagement of said bushing with said hole and each said conducting element having a circumferential or part circumferential rib or like formation to restrain withdrawal of the said member from the bushing and so located as to give rise to an increased outer cross sectional dimension of the bushing on the inside of the housing.

Preferably according to the invention the metal insert has a plurality of through holes in side-by-side and interconnected relation, the holes forming sockets adapted to receive a plurality of individual electrical connections or terminal leads.

In one form of the invention the metal insert which the insulated bushing carries is formed from a length of stock tubing run through an appropriate die to give it a sort of cloverleaf formation with a central opening and a plurality of eccentric openings lying alongside of and con nected with the central opening. The result is in effect a cluster of interconnected tubes. In another form of the invention the metal insert is formed from a short length of solid rod with a plurality of drilled holes therein, one through the-center and several holes drilled substantially equidistant from the center, the latter holes merging into the central hole. Thus, if four holes are drilled and are interconnected in the central section, the four holes can receive four terminal leads and a fifth one can be received in the center. After the terminal leads are positioned in the holes, the assembly is dipped into molten solder and the terminal assembly iscomplete.

The invention will now be described further, by Way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating various embodiments thereof and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of one form of terminal assembly;

FIG. 2a is a longitudinal section taken through an alternative embodiment; a

FIG. 2b is a longitudinal section through a further embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a further embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal view through a terminal assembly with an insulated conductor pin in position therein;

FIG. 5a is a longitudinal view through a further form of assembly having a conductor pin in position therein;

FIG. 5b is a bottom perspective view thereof; and

FIGS. 6a, 6b are plan views of still further terminal assemblies.

3,193,617 Patented July 6, 1965 ice Referring now to FIG. 1 the terminal assembly comprises a bushing 11, of polytetrafluoroethylene, (hereinafter referred to as PTFE), having, moulded integral therewith, a metal insert comprising a'tubular electrical conductor element 12 which is made in accordance with the first method.

The bushing 11 is formed with a peripheral flange 11a,

such fiange 11a serving to locate the bushing at a required depth of engagement relative to a through hole 13a in a housing 13. The conductor element 12 is metallic and is formed by passing a cylindrical tube through an appropriate die to give the cross-sectional configuration readily apparent in the illustration. Each individual tube of the element 12 has a deformation 12' formed in the outer surface of the wall thereof, the said deformations 12' being so positioned longitudinally of the element 12 and of such dimensions as to cause a part of the bushing 11 disposed within the housing 13 to assume a cross-sectional dimension in excess of the corresponding cross-sec ti-on of the through hole 13a thus to restrain withdrawal of the assembly from said hole after location therein, the assembly initially being an interference fit in such hole.

In use the assembly of FIG. 1 will receive either a single conductor pin 14 centrally thereof (as is, in fact,

shown in FIG. 1) or a plurality of individual wires to be joined together, the separate wires being distributed about the individual tubes, or a conductor pin and the said plurality of wires.

The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b differ from that of FIG. 1 only in that the conductor element 12 does not extend throughout the full longitudinal extent of the bushing 11. In FIG. 2a the inner end of the bushing 11 is closed, as at 11b, and thus the assembly is of use as a means for connecting wires which are not intended, at the region of the bushing at least, to pass through the housing to the interior thereof. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2b, the converse is true since the outer end is closed. Thus a multiplicity of wires within the housing may be joined and the joint positively located. In FIG. 2b a bushing having a substantially closed outer end, as at 110, is of use for connecting a plurality of individual wires within the housing to a single wire outside the housing, a small dimension through hole being provided for this latter purpose. Again, the position may be reversed and the closure located at the inner end of the bushing.

Referring now to FIG. 3 the insert or tubular conducting member may be in the form of a machined plug 17 having through holes 17a drilled therein, forming, in effect, a junction block with tubular sockets to receive terminal leads or wires in soldered relation, the plug 17 having a peripheral flange 17b about the outer end thereof, and a peripheral rib 17c between the ends thereof, such rib 17c serving to expand the bushing 11 inwardly of the housing 13. If required a further through hole 18 may be provided axially of the plug 17, such further hole 18 being of a diameter such as will break into the holes 17a. Again the conducting member is moulded integral with the bushing and the unit is an interference fit in the hole in the housing. A single conductor pin may be used, as with the conductor pin used in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1, or, alternatively the assembly may be used for the interconnection of a multiplicity of wires.

In FIG. 4 there is illustrated a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In this case it is desired to incorporate an insulated lead-through conductor pin 19, said conductor pin being insulated from the conductor element 12 by a further PTFE bushing 20. The conductor pin 19 has a radial collar 19a in abutment with the bushing 20 and also has a raised portion 1% so disposed as to lie just outside the surface defined by the lower end of the element 12 when the terminal is assembled. The use of the eraser? E fitting is as described in relation to the previous embodiment.

FIGS. a and 5 b show a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 3. A metal insert 21 has an inner end 21a WhOSG'CfiIliIZIl section is recessed as shown at 24 and has longitudinally directed through holes 21!) and has a pcripheral rib 170 between the ends thereof, as in the embodiment of FIG. 3. A conductor pin 22 is moulded in a bushing 23 which bushing 23 is, in turn, located in one of the through holes 21b. The insert 21, as is readily apparent, is insulated from the conductor pin 22 by the bushing 23, and from the reverse side of the housing by virtue of the complete encasement of the end of said conductor pin by such bushing. The conductor pin has an enlarged knurled central portion 22a and a raised portion 22b, the latter lying just outside the inner surface of the recessed portion 24.

Alternative arrangements to those embodiments already described are shown, in plan view, in FIGS. 6a and 6b. In

each case a bushing 25 is located in a hole in a housing and has moulded therein a plurality of electrical conductor members 26. In the arrangement of FIG. 6a, the con ductor members 26 are adapted to join together pairs of whole being dipped in an appropriate solder bath to effect securing. By virtue of the character of the base board and its lack of aliinity to wetting by solder, the solder will be limited in its distribution to the region of the wires to be joined and the respective terminal assemblies. Whether the solder is applied to the lower ends of the multiple hole junctions by this dip soldering technique or Whether the solder is applied from above by conventional hard or machine soldering methods, the flow of the solder into the interstices between the terminal leads and the holes is caused by capillary action.

The invention is clearly not restricted to the particular features of the embodiment hereinbefore described since alternatives will readily present themselves to one skilled in the art. For example, the rib 17c of FIG. 3 may be replaced by a plurality of individual spikes or like protuberances. Furthermore, it may be found advantageous to provide a shallow channel around the periphery of the metal insert 17, such channel being spaced inwardly of the insert relative to the flange 11a and serving to receive PTFE displaced by the stretching of the bushing 11 consequent upon the distortion by the bulge formed at the inner facing of the housing.

I claim: 1

1. An electrical terminal assembly adapted to be located in a hole in a housing or the like and initially to be an interference fit in such hole which comprises an insulating bushing having a flanged head, a conducting element disposed within such bushing, said conducting element having a plurality of holes extending therethrough, means to restrain withdrawal of the bushing from the housing and also to restrain disengagement of the confor making a soldered conection to the ends of one or more lead wires that are inserted into said assembly, said plural socket assembly comprising an outer insulating bushing for mounting in said hole, an electrically conducting element positioned within said bushing, said electrically conducting element having an opening extending into it, said opeinng being accessible from at least one end of said bushing and being of clover-leaf shaped cross section as seen from said end of the bushing forming a plurality of interconnected tubular sockets, each of said tubular sockets extending into said conducting element from said end of the bushing and each being eccentrically positioned within said conducting element for receiving and engaging the ends of a plurality of lead wires inserted into the respective tubular sockets, said tubular sockets merging into one another toward the axis of said conducting element for receiving solder in said tubular sockets for securing and for electrically interconnecting the respective ends of lead wires therein.

3. An electrical terminal multiple socket assembly for insertion in a hole in a base board, a housing, and the like for making a soldered connection to the ends of a plurality of terminal leads inserted into said assembly, said multiple socket assembly comprising an outer insulating bushing, a cylindrical metallic electrically conducting element positioned within said bushing, said cylindrical conducting element having an opening extending into it, said opening being accessible from at least one end of said bushing and being of clover-leaf shape as seen from said end of the bushing forming a plurality of interconnected tubular sockets, each of said tubular sockets extending into said conducting element from said end of the bushing and each being formed in the wall of said conducting element for receiving the ends of terminal leads inserted into the respective tubular sockets, and said tubular sockets merging into one another toward the axis of said conducting element for receiving molten solder into said tubular sockets for securing and for electrically interconnecting the respective ends of terminal leads therein, and said insulating bushing having an outwardly directed peripheral flange for abutment with the surface of the base board, housing, or the like upon engagement of the multiple socket assembly with a hole therein.

'4. An electrical terminal multiple socket assembly as claimed in claim 3 and wherein said opening in said cylindrical metallic electrical conducting element is accessible from both ends of said outer insulating bushing, an inner bushing positioned in said opening along the axis of said conducting element and said tubular sockets extending through said outer bushing along beside said inner bushing, and a lead-through conductor extending through said inner bushing and being held thereby insulated from said tubular sockets for providing an insulated connection eX- tending through said socket assembly.

5. An electrical terminal socket and base board assembly for joining together small dimension electrical elements mounted on the base board by dipping into a solder bath for making a soldered connection to the ends of terminals of said elements, said socket and base board assembly comprising an aluminum base board having a through hole therein, and insulating bushing of PTPE having a radially outwardly directed peripheral flange, a

. plurality of tubular electrically conducting elements positioned within said bushing, said bushing being located in said hole in press fit relationship with said flange in abutment with the surface of said base board on one side thereof and with a part of the bushing on the opposite side of said base board having a cross-sectional dimension in excess of the corresponding cross section of said hole for retaining said bushing therein, said tubular electrically conducting elements each having an opening extending therethrough which is open on both sides of the board, each of said openings defining a plurality of eccentrically positioned tubular sockets formed in the respective tubular conducting elements for receiving the ends of a plurality O of terminals inserted into said openings for electrically interconnecting and securing said terminal ends therein by dip soldering.

6. An electrical terminal plural socket assembly for making a soldered connection to the ends of a plurality of lead Wires that are inserted into said assembly, said plural socket assembly comprising an insulating member, a tubular electrically conducting element having a cylindrical wall formed in a clover-leaf shape to give the bore of said tubular conducting element a clover-leaf configuration as seen in an axial direction, said tubular conducting element being positioned within said member with at least one end of the bore of said tubular conducting element being open and accessible for providing a plurality of interconnected sockets, each of said sockets extending into said tubular conducting element from said end and each being eccentrically positioned within said conducting element for receiving the ends of a plurality of lead wires inserted into the respective sockets for receiving solder in said sockets for securing and for electrically interconnecting the respective ends of lead wires therein.

'7. An electrical terminal multiple socket assembly for mounting by press =fit in a through hole in a housing, base board, and the like for making a soldered connection to the ends of a plurality of lead wires that are inserted into said assembly, said multiple socket assembly comprising an outer insulating bushing having a radially outwardly directed peripheral flange, a cylindrical metallic element positioned within said bushing and extending through said bushing from one end to the other thereof, said cylindrical metallic element having an opening extending through itself and opening out at both ends of said cylindrical element, said opening defining an axial socket and a plurality of interconnected cylindrical sockets eccentrically positioned in said cylindrical element for receiving the ends of wire leads inserted into the respective sockets in said element, said eccentrically positioned cylindrical sockets merging into said axial socket for receiving molten solder in said opening for securing and electrically interconnecting the respective ends or" wire leads in the respective sockets, said cylindrical element having a radially outwardly projecting deformation formed in the outer surface of the wall thereof and axially spaced from said flange for adapting said assembly for press fit mounting in such a through hole.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 990,353 4/11 Gudeman 339-498 2,433,911 1/48 Johnston 174153 X 2,655,638 10/53 Allen 174-153 X 2,911,460 11/59 Oxley 174153 2,918,521 12/59 Abrams 174-452 2,973,499 2/61 Hammell 339-17 3,088,191 5/63 Breiling.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,111,290 10/55 France.

669,041 3/52 Great Britain. 753,240 7/56 Great Britain.

LARA-MIE E. ASKIN, Primary Examiner.

JOHN P. WILDMAN, E. JAMES SAX, Examiners. 

1. AN ELECTRICAL TERMINAL ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO BE LOCATED IN A HOLE IN A HOUSING OR TH ELIKE AND INITIALLY TO BE AN INTERFERENCE FIT IN SUCH HOLE WHICH COMPRISES AN INSULATING BUSHING HAVING A FLANGED HEAD, A CONDUCTING ELEMENT DISPOSED WITHIN SUCH BUSHING, SAID CONDUCTING ELEMENT HAVING A PLURALITY OF HOLES EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, MEANS TO RESTRAIN WITHDRAWAL OF THE BUSHING FROM THE HOUSING AND ALSO TO RESTRAIN DISENGAGEMENT OF THE CONDUCTING ELEMENT FROM THE BUSHING, A SECOND BUSHING INONE OF SAID HOLES AND A CONDUCTOR IN TIGHTLY FITTING ENENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SECOND BUSHING AND BEING INSULATED FROM SAID CONDUCTING ELEMENT, SAID CONDUCTOR HAVING AN ENLARGEMENT THEREON POSITIONED WITHIN THE SECOND BUSHING AND BEYOND ONE END OF THE CONDUCTING ELEMENT. 